Fire-hose nozzle.



D. S. JOHNSTON.

FIRE HOSE NOZZLE.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.14, 1911.

Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

.i mp

3. 6. cfohnam gmemoz wi/lwmobeo 8% D. S. JOHNSTON FIRE HOSE NOZZLE.

APPLICATION FILED 001:. 14, 1911.

Patented Sept. 9,

SHEETZ.

2 SHEETS $w hm mm ran oratio- DAVIE S. JOHNSTON, KNGXVJ'LLILE, TENNESSEE.

man-nose area-21s.

weasel.

speeifi'eatioii .oflitters' Patent.

Patented Sept.- 9, 1913.

Application filed oetoher 14., 1911.. Serial no; 654,666:

T0 aZZw/zomz't may concern 7 Be it known that I, DAVIDS'. JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Knoxville,- in the countyof Knox and State of Tennessee,- have invented newand use iul Fire-Hose Nozzle, of which the following lis a specification.

Thisiiivention has reference to improve ments in hose nozzles and particularly fire hose nozzles and 'its'obj'ect is to provide a nozzle whereby the operator may be com pletely protected from the eifects of fire and smoke by a wall of water delivered by the'nozzle in a manner to mterpose between the source of fire'orsmoke or both and th operator.

In accordance with the present invention the nozzle is provided with means for prodncing a-gill spray at an intermediate point of the, nozzle whereby when a full stream is issuing from the mouth of-ithenozzle the operator is enveloped. inspray in; the form of a sheet of ample diameter permittingithc operator to zappro'ach close tothe flame, while at the saine time being fully protected from the efiects of heat and smoke, and provision is made forvaryirigwthe direction of this sheetor screen of spray to protect the operator on either side if necessary, while i not materially 'aflectmg the stream: 0t water issuing from the mouth of the nozzle. 7

The nozzle also includes 1 means for :regiu lating the outlet for various purposes,- as tenproducing either a round stream of VVElJtBlwOf great carrying power, or a flattened stream of great spreading power, or intermediate conditions enabling the operator toregulate the nozzle for varying conditions met in. fire fighting.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of:the following de= shown in Fig.- 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2 but drawn to a larger of Fig. 2 but drawn to a larger scale. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-=5' of Fig. 2 drawn to alarger scale. Fig.- 6 isa side elevation with some parts in section of the outlet end of the nozzle with the exit fiattened. Fig. 7

scale. Fig. 4 is a section on the line il is an. end elevation of the exit end of the structureshown in'Fig'L Fig. 8 is a sectionon the line 8 8 of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a perspective-view of the exit end of the nozzle showing a somewhat different means for regulating the form ofthe stream issuing therefrom from thatishown in Fig. l and associated views.

In the drawings, there is shown a nozzle structure comprising two members 1 and 2, respectively, the member lhaving at one end athreaded socket or hell 3 for attachment tohose, and at the other end the member 1 is providednvith a cellar at constituting in effect arad-ial fiange1 Ahab intermediate point the member" 1 has applied thereto a sleeve 5whichunayhe -formed atone end with an outstanding flange .6 and applied or as many set screws as may be found ad visable, or any other means for securing this sleeve fixedly to themeinber 1 may be employed. Surrounding the sleeve 5 and carried thereby between the flange 6 and ring 7 isariirglO having on its inner face a circular series'cf gear teeth 11, so that the ring 10 with the teethill constitute a circular gear with the teeth interior thereto. This circular: gear .is provided at one point with outstanding handle 12 which may be substantially radial to the gear. The sleeve 5 is cut away at appropriatepoints, as indi- 'cated at 513,;f0r thereception of pinions 14,

the sleeve beingshown as provided with three such cut away portions equi-dislantly 'disp-osechthat is,- separated at angles of one hundred and twenty degrees. Each pinion is fast to one end of a shaft 15' to which reference will presently be made, the shaft at i the end remote from the pinion being screw threadedefer a distance as indicated at 16 in Fig-2; and between the pinion and threaded portionap-rovided with an external abut inent 17 .engaging the collar 4 through which 1 between the sleeve 5 and the collar l is an annular slide 18 formed with a semi-globular extension 19 directed toward the flange 4.- and in spaced relation to the portion of the member 1 surrounded by the said extension 19. The free edge of the semi-globular extension 19 may be brought to an approximately sharp edge 20, thesharpened edge being outermost.

The member 1 of the nozzle is in the particular construction shown substantially cylindrical throughout and the member 2 of the nozzle has a portion 21 approximately cylindrical, and from this cylindrical portion to the exit end the member 2 may be tapered as is customary in hose nozzles. On the cylindrical portion 21 of the nozzle member 2 there is mounted a sleeve 22 having an approximately semi-globular extension 23 similar to the extension 19 of the slide 18, and this extension 23 has its free end brought to anapproximately sharp edge, as indicated at 24, the term sharp edge not necessarily meaning a cutting edge, but that the edge is beveled back so that the peripheral portion presents but little surface.

The sleeve22 is not made fast to thenozzle section 2, but is free to slide thereon,

although the fit should be comparativelysnug to prevent leakage. The two semiglobular members 19 and 23 have their sharp ened edges presented one toward the other and the slide 18 and sleeve 22 are connected together in spaced relation by a suitable number of rods 25 joining the two members for simultaneous movement longitudinally ofthe nozzle as a whole. That end of the nozzle section 2 presented toward the nozzle section 1 is provided with a collar 26 similar to the collar 1 and serving as an annular fiange, and the outer edges of these two flange members may be beveled to present comparativelysharp peripheral portions 27 adjacent one to the other, the facing portions of the two flanges being in substantially parallel relation one to the other. 'The flanges 4t and 26 have appropriate matching perforations 28 for the rods 25, so that there may be relative movements between the flanges and rods. The shafts 15 pass freely through appropriate passages in the slide v 18 and through appropriate passages in the flange 1 and the threaded ends 16 of these shafts extend through threaded passages in the flange 26. By turning the internal gear 10 axially rotative movement is imparted to thepinions 1-1 and by the latter to the shafts 15 and throu h the screw threaded ends 16 of these shafts operate on the flanges 26 to cause the section 2 to move toward and from the section 1, whereby the space between the flanges 4: and 26 may be made lesser or greater in accordance with the directiono-f movement of the shafts. The space between the two flanges is practically free, being im- 'peded only by the'presence of the shafts 15 and rods 25 and since these'may beof comparatively small diameter the space between thel'langes is for all practicalpurposes quite free.

Mounted on the section 1 is a segment 29 having notches 30 and mounted on the memher 1 by means of a pivot 31 and appropriate ears 32 is a thumb'lever 33 provided with a dog 3st adapted to the notches 30. This lever is connected by a link 35 to the slide 18, so that by an appropriate manipulation of the lever 83 the slide 18 and with it the sleeve 22 may be moved longitudinally of thenozzle irrespective of the adjustment of the two members of the nozzle one relative to the other. Because of the general globular shape of the associated slide .18 with its flange 19 and sleeve 22 with its flange 23 it may be termed a globe shift. In order'to maintain the globe shift in fixed relation to theinozzle except for longitudinal movement thereon, splines 86 are provided about the member 1 and the inner surface of the slide 18 isappl'opriately cut away for the reception of these splines which prevent turning motion of the globe shift 011 the nozzle but permit longitudinal movement thereof on the nozzle.

Let it be assumed that the nozzle is appropriately attached to a fire hose and that water is flowing through it in the usual manner, or in a manner to be hereinafter described, and letit be assumed that the gear 10 has been manipulated to separate the flanges 4 and 26 to leave an appropriate space between them, and let it also be assumed that the globe shift is in an intermediate position such as shown in Fig. 2.

Under these conditions there is issuing from the nozzle a stream of water depending upon the size of the nozzle and the pressure impelling the water. There is also issuing in 7 a direction substantially radial to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle a-wallof spray extending in all directions from the nozzle for a distance depending upon the pressure exerted on the water. In the drawings the passage between the two flanges at the meet.- in ends of the nozzle members is shown aggerated as compared with the outlet of wall of spray issuing. laterally from the nozzle may be termed a gill spray. and under nd LUV more feet in diameter, warding off all heat new-22,951

the position of the parts assumed this spray 1s1n practice found amply sufficient to enable a fireman to approachwlthin a very short distance of the flame, with. protection to the source of fire and by such close ob.-

servation without any great danger or inconvenience direct the stream of water where most efficient. t v I By moving the globe shift longitudinally of the nozzle structure so as to bring one semi-globular flange or "the other into the path of the outflowing gill stream, the curved inner wall-of the flange 19 01:23, as the case may be, will divert thegill'stre am so that it is thrown forwardly or rearwardly to thereby further protect the fireman from it has been foundthat with a full stream playing through the nozzle a quarter inch opening for the gill stream will form a screen, curtain or wall of spray fifteen or and smoke and making it possible to approach within even less than onefoot of the flame with a clear view ahead and fullpro- 'tection to the fireman on allsides and also above, especially'when the lever 84 is in the ate positicn and varying the gill spray from one quarter to one halfinch in thickness as desired, a sheet of water or spray perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle of fifteen or more feet in diameter is ob tained, which sheet wards off the flames from right or left and makes a complete transparent curtain'in front of the fireman.

' When the lever 83' is forward with the gill spray anywhere from one quarter to one half inch in thickness, the sheet/f spray is dlrected forwardly, which with the full stream playing straight ahead retards flames from both sides, thus enabling a fireman to back out of a burning building in case of falling timbers or other like dangers,-wh-ile at the same time being fully protected by the gill stream. The fireman has close at hand the handle 12 and lever 34 whereby the thickness of the gill stream and the relation 'tion andelongating-it in another.

' thereof to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle may, be readily adjusted from time to time as occasion may demand, or where the gill stream is unnecessary the parts may be brought close together, so that the flanges 4 and 26 are in contact and the gill stream is thereby obliterated, the nozzle then acting as an ordinary nozzle so far as the adjustment between the two sections is concerned.

In fires conditions often arise where the solid circular stream is not as eflective as a stream of other form. To provide for such contingency the small end of the section 2 has applied thereto a flexible cylindrical nose -37 which may be ,made of flexible wired rubber hose held'tothe end of the nozzle by a clamp ring38 or otherwise. Iopposite sides of the nozzle section 2 near the exit end are levers 39 of the first order and corresponding levers on opposite sides of the nozzle are connected together by cross 1 bars s0 at the outer ends and these cross bars may carry shoes 4:1 in engagement with the Qflexible hose extensionB'Z. The ends of the levers 89"remote from the cross bars 40 are connected together on the same side of the the effects of the flame. ln actual practice Pivoted to nozzle by links 42 and these links are. joined together and to another link 43 which in turn is connected tothe corresponding yoke I end l l of a lever 45, the yoke end of the lever being instraddl-ing lelittlOl'l to the nozzle section 2 and connected thereto by pivots The lever is provided with a thumb latch M in operative relation to a rack 48 mounted on a casing .49 in turn carried by the end of the nozzle section andterminating in the nose 3?, the casing itl surrounding and protecting the lever andlink system and is provided with a slot 50 for the passage of the lever. lVhen the lever 45 is moved in one direction the shoes 41 are separated one from the other. so that the nozzle extension 37 expands to its full circular p-os1t1on. When the lever 45 is moved in the other.. direction the lovers 39 are rocked on their pivots to brin'gthe shoes 41 closer together thus flattening the flexible extension thereby contracting it in one direc- This causes the issuingstream to assume a more or less fan-like shape, whereby a broad stream of comparatively little thickness is projected although the relation between the widtl'i and thickness of thestream will depend upon the adjustments of the lever e5. In place of the flattening shoes,-flattening blades 51 shown in Fig. 9 may be employed, these blades being carried by the correspond ing ends of the levers 39 and extending be yond the outer end of the flexible nose 37.

The flatteners 51 may be operated in a man ner similar to the flatteners 41. The structure shown in Fig. 9 is particularly useful in connection with water towers where the fire may be fought from above and this flattener will deliver a sheet of water from one-sixteenth of an inch upward which with full pressure will cover an area up to fifty feet in diameter or practically covering the complete top of a building, the gill stream of course being under such circumstances closed. It will be understood, of course, that where heavy pressures are used suitable reinforcing is employed to resist such pressures, so that the parts will not become bent out of shape.

The levers for manipulating the various parts may be arranged to lie close to the nozzle, so as to be out of the way when not in use. The. gill spray in a standard size nozzle has usually an adjustment from about one-half inch as maximum thickness to onethirty-second inch, in use, or may be entirely cut ofi:,and the parts are so arranged that the entire movement of the circular gear need not exceed one turn for such purpose. The whole nozzle may be made of standard sizeto fit in the nozzle holders of fire fighting apparatus, such as are in common use. 7 t r V The flattening device for, Widening and thinning the stream issuing from the nose of the nozzle is particularly useful inthe case oi lumber or mill fires where there are stacks of lumber, logs, etc., and a flat spray or stream will enter 'betweenthe openings and reacha fire where a round stream loses the greater part, of its efficiency by the splash caused by coming in contact with the sides or ends of the piled lumber. Moreover, a round stream will often upset piles of lumher not only-interfering with reaching the seat of the fire, but often endangering fire men, while with the flat stream the liability of upsetting the piles of lumber is greatly reduced.

It is to be observed that the interior of the nozzle as a whole is of substantially constant diameter from the point oi COHIIGClLlOIL either in the form of adjusting mechanisms or shoulders, or other impeding devices to the outflow of the water. The pressure necessary to cause the projection of the gill stream laterally to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle is due wholly to the tapering end of the nozzle, whereby there is superior pressure at the point of generation of the gill stream without any impediment to the flow of the stream at this point when the gill stream opening is fully closed.

Itis to be observed that the lever 45 is moved toward the discharge end of the nozzle to close such end so that when the nozzle is being dragged over the ground, as often occurs, the lever will not catch on some 0bstruction and thereby cause the opening of the nozzle. r g V l/Vhat .1s claimed 1s z--- 1. A fire hose "nozzle having a break in its continuity at an intermediate point, the parts being adjustable one relative to the other in the direction of the longitudinal axis to increase or decrease the space be tween the adjacent ends, or to bring them into contact at will, and a directing mem-' ber formed of two'portions spaced apart and located on opposite sides of the'break in the continuity of the nozzle and movable bodily lengthwise of the nozzle to direct a gill stream issuing through the break in the nozzle toward one end or the other of said nozzle.

2. A fire hose nozzle having a break in its 7 continuity at an intermediate point with radially disposed.walls,'the parts being adjustable one relative to the other in the di-e rection of the longitudinal axis of the noz zle to increase or decrease the space between the radial walls or tobring them into contact at will, and a directing member on the nozzle exterior to the'portion where the" break occurs and including two portions spaced apart and movable togetherlongitudinally of the nozzle to direct a gill stream issuingzthrough the break toward one end or the other of the nozzle, atwill. p 'g 8. A the hosenozzle having aportion of substantially constant internal diameter and another portion tapering therefrom to the discharge end of thenozzle, the nozzle being separated intotwo members'within the range of the portion of'constant diameter,

ofthe nozzle;

i. A fire hose nozzle having a break in its continuity at an intermediate point for" the production of a gill stream, and means for-directing the gill'stream toward either end of the nozzle at will comprising a two 1 part interiorly expanded member surrounding the nozzle'at the :point' of break in its continuity and on opposite sides thereof, the two parts being in spaced relation one to the other and connected togetherifor'z bodily movement in the direction of the longitudinal ax s of the nozzle. 7 t

5. A fire hose nozzle comprising two alined members, one member beingmovabletoward and from the other member in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, screw shafts carried byone member and carrying and engaging the other member,pinions on the screw shafts at the ends thereof on the member carrying said shafts,

a circular gear in engagement with the pinions and provided with manipulating means,

and asupport for gear-on the carrying member of the nozzle for holdin g the gear in engagement with the p-inions. and permitt ng rotative movement of the gear.

6. A fire hose nozzle comprising two carrying and engaging the other member,

pinions on the screw shafts at the ends 7 thereof on the member. carrying said shafts,

a circular gear in engagement with the pin ions and provided with manipulating means, and a support for the gear on the carrylng member of the nozzle for holding the gear,

in engagement with the pinions and permitting rotative movement of the gear, the ad j acent ends of the carrying and carried members of the nozzle being provided with exterior radial flanges in matching relation one to the other and movable one toward the other by the relative movements of the'noz zle sections.- r V r i 7 A fire hose nozzle comprising" two alined members, one member being movable toward and from the'other member in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, screw shafts carried by one member and carrying and engaging the other member, pinions on the screw shafts at the ends thereof on the member carrying said shafts, a circular gear in engagement with the pinions and provided with manipulating means, and a support for thegear on the carrying member of the nozzle for holding the gear in engagement with the pinions' and permitting rotatlve movement of the.

gear, the adjacent ends of the carrying and'carried members of the nozzle being provided with exterior radial flanges in matching relation one to the other and movable one toward the other by the relative movements of the nozzle sections, the screw shafts extending through the radial flange of one nozzle section and having their threaded ends extending through and engaging the flange of the other nozzle section. r

8. A fire hose nozzle comprising two alined sections movable relatively one to the other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the nozzle for the production of a gill stream between the adjacent ends of the sections, and a globe'like structure in surrounding relation to the meeting ends of the nozzle sections and having parts in separated relation for the passage of the gill stream, said globe-like structure being movable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of-the nozzle for intersecting and directing the gill stream.

"9. A fire hose nozzle comprising two alined sections 'movable relatively one to the other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the nozzle for the production of a gill stream between the adjacent ends of the sections, and a globe-like structure in surrounding relation to the meeting ends of the nozzle sections and having parts in separated relation for thepassage of the gill stream, said globe-like Structurebeing movable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the nozzlefor intersecting and di- P68131112,- the gill stream, one nozzle section having means for adjusting it toward and from the other nozzle section, said means being accessible on the operator side of the gill stream opening and the globe-like structure having means for its adjustment also located on the operator side of the gill stream opening.

10. A fire hose nozzle comprising two alined members movable relatively one to the other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, the meeting ends of the sections being provided with exterior radial flanges, a slidable member upon each section adjacent the flanged meeting ends and each terminating in a curved extension of semi-globe-like form exterior to the flanged ends of the sections, connecting means between the slidable members in turn extending through the flanged ends, an adjusting means for the globe like members on that section of the nozzle remote from the discharge end of the nozzle, screw shafts extending through the flange at the end of one section and having screw threaded ends engaging the flange at the adjacent end of the other section, and means for retating the shafts comprising a circular gear and pinions mounted on the shafts and meshing with the gear, and a support for the circular gear and pinion ends of the shafts carried by the member carrying the adjusting means for the globe-like structure.

11. A fire hose nozzle comprising two alined members movable relatively one to the other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, the meeting'ends of the sections being provided with exterior radial flanges, a slidable member upon each section adjacent the flanged meeting ends and each terminating in a curved extension of semiglobe-like form exterior to the flanged ends of the sections, connecting means between the slidable members in turn extending through the flanged ends, an adjusting means for the globe-like members on that section of thenozzle remote from the discharge end of the nozzle, screw-shafts extending through the flange at the end of one section and having screw threaded ends engaging the flange at the adjacent end of the other section, and means for rotating the shafts comprising a circular gear and pinions mounted on the shafts and meshing with the gear, and a support for the Circular gear and pinion ends of the shafts In testimony, that I claim the foregoing carried by the section carrying the adjustas my own, I have hereto aflixed my signa-- ing means for the globe-like structure, the ture in the presence of tWo Witnesses. peripheral edges of the flanges of the nozzle 5 sections and the corresponding peripheral WVitnesses:

edges of the globe-like structure being bev- B. L. FISHER, eled or sharpened Where engaged by Water. E. B. PROOT R.

. DAVID s. JOHN TO 1 'n Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, I). G. r 

